Carnivores are animals belonging to the order Carnivora. The order Carnivora contains 7 families and about 250 species. This group of animals includes dogs and their relatives, bears, racoons, mustelids, civits, hyenas, aardwolf, and cats.
Carnivores have adapted to a hunting lifestyle in a number of ways. Most members of the Order Carnivora are swift runners, the posess sharp teeth, superb eyesight, a well-developed sense of smell, sharp claws, and specialized teeth.
Most carnivores consume diets that consist entirely of meat. Some carnivores such as bears and foxes eat meat and plants. A few carnivores, such as the giant panda, eat only plants. Meat-eating carnivores catch animal prey of various sizes (insects, invertebrates, and vertebrates). Carrion feeders (such as the hyena) occasionally feed on prey killed by other animals.
Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
The Order Carnivora contains the following subgroups:- Family: Canidae (dogs, coyotes, foxes, wolves, jackals)
- Family: Felidae (cats)
- Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
- Family: Hyaenidae (hyenas and aardwolf)
- Family: Mustelidae (badgers, otters, weasels, skunks)
- Family: Odobenidae (walruses)
- Family: Otariidae (sea lions, fur seals)
- Family: Phocidae (seals)
- Family: Procyonidae (raccoons and relatives)
- Family: Ursidae (bears)
- Family: Viverridae (civets and relatives)
Range and Habitat
As a group, members of the order Carnivora have worldwide distribution and inhabit a wide range of habitat types.
References
- Burnie D, Wilson DE. 2001. Animal. London: Dorling Kindersley. 624 p.
